City plans fund-raiser for Paiz

October 10, 2007

By Casey Peacock: PNT Staff Writer

By Casey Peacock
PNT Staff Writer
Casey_Peacock@link.freedom.com
Portales residents and employees of Russell’s Super Save are pulling together to help a local resident who has been in the hospital for more than a week following a farm accident.
Ray Paiz said he sustained a major pelvic fracture and a torn urethra when run over Oct. 1 by a John Deere tractor. His doctors also had to perform two surgeries to deal with excessive internal bleeding that threatened his life, he said.
“I’m just black and blue. I have a lot of scrapes and bruises,” Paiz said Wednesday from his hospital bed in Lubbock.
He is unable to walk and will have to stay off his feet in an effort to let his body heal, he said. Surgery to place metal pins in his pelvic bone remains a possibility, he said.
A fund has been set up at Russell’s Super Save to help with expenses, according to Jane Tarango, store deli director and manager. Paiz is an assistant manager at the store.
Donations have been coming in from the many people that Paiz has touched in the community, she said.

“We’re so blessed that he’s doing good. I think this is an experience for everyone. Life is so short, anything can happen in a split second,” Tarango said.

Paiz was attempting to help his dad hook the tractor up to equipment at the family farm southeast of Portales when the accident occurred, he said.

“It’s a ritual, Monday is farm day,” Paiz said.

Paiz was in the process of boosting the tractor to get it started when he heard the tractor go into gear. It was then that he saw his dad was in danger, Paiz said.

“I yelled, ‘Dad get out of the way’ and I pushed him,” Paiz said.

It was while he was trying to get up into the tractor to shut it off that he was pulled down by a tire. Paiz felt the tire go over the top of him, he said.

The tractor came to a stop after it crashed head-on into his pickup, Paiz said.

Paiz alerted his mom and friends that he was injured and needed help, he said.

He was then flown straight from the scene to Lubbock.

“It’s amazing how quick help arrived. They worked on me really quick,” Paiz said. “Luckily everybody was where they were supposed to be, thank God.”

Paiz is optimistic in his recovery and is keeping an upbeat attitude. He is appreciative of not only the staff at Covenant hospital, but friends and Portales residents who have supported him and his family.

“I’m very grateful for everybody in Portales. It’s amazing to me, I feel so blessed. It’s like a miracle when people come together,” Paiz said. “I’m lucky to be alive, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”